# Dallas County, Missouri

Dallas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the population was 17,071. Its county seat is Buffalo. The county was organized in 1842 as Niangua County and then renamed in 1844 for George M. Dallas, who served as Vice President under James K. Polk.
Dallas County is part of the Springfield, MO Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 543 square miles (1,410 km$^2$), of which 541 square miles (1,400 km$^2$) is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km$^2$) (0.4%) is water.

### Adjacent counties

* Camden County (north)
* Laclede County (east)
* Webster County (south)
* Greene County (southwest)
* Polk County (west)
* Hickory County (northwest)

### Major highways

* U.S. Route 65
* Route 32
* Route 64
* Route 64A
* Route 73

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 15,661 people, 6,030 households and 4,383 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 inhabitants per square mile (11/km$^2$). There were 6,914 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 97.45% White, 0.12% Black or African American, 0.76% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Approximately 0.94% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 3.57% percent reported speaking Pennsylvania German or German at home. Dallas County is the county with the largest concentration of Kauffman Amish Mennonites, who have preserved Pennsylvania German as their everyday language and an old form of Standard German for church. They had 950 adherents in Dallas County in 2010.
There were 6,030 households, out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.80% were married couples living together, 8.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.30% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.50% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,346; the median income for a family was $33,500. Males had a median income of $26,438 versus $17,569 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,106. About 14.20% of families and 17.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 18.50% of those age 65 or over.

### 2020 Census

Dallas County Racial Composition :
| Race | Num. | Perc. |
| White (NH) | 15,696 | 92% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 44 | 0.26% |
| Native American (NH) | 92 | 0.54% |
| Asian (NH) | 25 | 0.14% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 15 | 0.09% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 879 | 5.15% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 320 | 1.9% |

## Education
### Public schools

* Dallas County R-I School District – Buffalo
** Mallory Elementary School (PK-04)
** Buffalo Middle School (05-08)
** Buffalo High School (09-12)
* Hickory County R-I School District – Urbana
** Skyline Elementary School (K-04)
** Skyline Middle School (05-08)
** Skyline High School (09-12)

### Private schools

* Meadowlark Hill - (PK-08) - Mennonite - Tunas
* Prairie Grove School - (01-08) - Amish - Buffalo

## Communities
### Cities

* Buffalo (county seat)
* Urbana

### Village

* Louisburg

### Census-designated place

* Bennett Springs

### Other unincorporated places

* Boyd
* Celt
* Charity
* Cloverdale
* Elixer
* Foose
* Handley
* Leadmine
* Long Lane
* March
* Mathis
* Olive
* Plad
* Redtop
* Reynolds
* Shady Grove
* Spring Grove
* Tunas
* Wall Street
* Windyville
* Wood Hill

## Notable people

* Roy Meeker - professional baseball player

## Politics
### Local

The Republican Party predominantly controls politics at the local level in Dallas County. Republicans hold all of the elected positions in the county.

### State

Past Gubernatorial Elections Results :
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 82.10% 6.646 | 15.98% 1,294 | 1.91% 155 |
| 2016 | 66.67% 4,943 | 29.82% 2,211 | 3.51% 260 |
| 2012 | 53.42% 3,882 | 43.32% 3,148 | 3.26% 237 |
| 2008 | 41.92% 3,212 | 54.46% 4,173 | 3.61% 277 |
| 2004 | 65.01% 4,708 | 33.43% 2,421 | 1.56% 113 |
| 2000 | 55.16% 3,429 | 42.99% 2,672 | 1.85% 115 |
| 1996 | 54.60% 3,083 | 41.80% 2,360 | 3.60% 203 |
All of Dallas County is a part of Missouri's 129th District in the Missouri House of Representatives and is represented by Sandy Crawford (R-Buffalo).
Missouri House of Representatives — District 129 — Dallas County (2020) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jeff Knight | 6,703 | 84.86% | +10.28% |
| | Democratic | Dewanna Marquez | 1,196 | 15.14% | +10.27% |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 129 — Dallas County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Jeff Knight | 4,777 | 74.58% | −13.39% |
| | Democratic | Ronna Ford | 1,628 | 25.41% | +25.41% |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 129 — Dallas County (2016) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sandy Crawford | 6,375 | 87.97% | +5.72 |
| | Independent | Charles Mantranga | 872 | 12.03% | +12.03 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 129 — Dallas County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sandy Crawford | 3,003 | 82.25% | +5.34 |
| | Democratic | John L. Wilson | 648 | 17.75% | −5.34 |
Missouri House of Representatives — District 129 — Dallas County (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sandy Crawford | 5,523 | 76.91% | |
| | Democratic | John L. Wilson | 1,658 | 23.09% | |
All of Dallas County is a part of Missouri's 28th District in the Missouri Senate. The seat has been held by Sandy Crawford since 2017.
Missouri Senate — District 28 — Dallas County (2018) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sandy Crawford | 5,363 | 83.27% | +5.38% |
| | Democratic | Joe Poor | 1,077 | 16.72% | −5.38% |
Missouri Senate — District 28 — Dallas County — Special (2017) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Sandy Crawford | 1,494 | 77.89% | −22.11% |
| | Democratic | Albert Skalicky | 424 | 22.10% | +22.10% |
Missouri Senate — District 28 — Dallas County (2014) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Mike Parson | 3,132 | 100.00% | |

### Federal

U.S. Senate — Missouri — Dallas County (2018) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Josh Hawley | 4,682 | 72.10% | +3.43% |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 1,594 | 24.55% | −2.11% |
| Libertarian | Japeth Campbell | 87 | 1.34% | −1.11% |
| Green | Jo Crain | 36 | 0.55% | −0.62% |
| Independent | Craig O'Dear | 94 | 1.44% | +1.44% |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Dallas County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Roy Blunt | 5,101 | 68.67% | +19.84 |
| Democratic | Jason Kander | 1,980 | 26.66% | −16.03 |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 182 | 2.45% | −6.03 |
| Green | Johnathan McFarland | 87 | 1.17% | +1.17 |
| Constitution | Fred Ryman | 78 | 1.05% | +1.05 |
U.S. Senate — Missouri — Dallas County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Todd Akin | 3,514 | 48.83% |
| Democratic | Claire McCaskill | 3,072 | 42.69% |
| Libertarian | Jonathan Dine | 610 | 8.48% |
All of Dallas County is included in Missouri's 4th Congressional District and is currently represented by Mark Alford (R-Lake Winnebago) in the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Dallas County (2020) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 6,498 | 81.62% | +2.08% |
| Democratic | Lindsey Simmons | 1,255 | 15.76% | −2.27% |
| Libertarian | Mark Bliss | 208 | 2.61% | +0.20% |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Dallas County (2018) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 5,129 | 79.54% | +0.01% |
| Democratic | Renee Hoagenson | 1,163 | 18.03% | +1.70% |
| Libertarian | Mark Bliss | 156 | 2.41% | −0.92 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 4th Congressional District — Dallas County (2016) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 5,804 | 79.53% | +0.87 |
| Democratic | Gordon Christensen | 1,192 | 16.33% | +0.21% |
| Libertarian | Mark Bliss | 302 | 4.14% | −1.73% |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Dallas County (2014) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 2,875 | 78.66% | +7.03 |
| Democratic | Nate Irvin | 589 | 16.12% | −7.69 |
| Libertarian | Herschel L. Young | 185 | 5.06% | +2.38 |
| Write-In | Greg A. Cowan | 6 | 0.16% | +0.16 |
U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Dallas County (2012) :
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Vicky Hartzler | 5,133 | 71.63% |
| Democratic | Teresa Hensley | 1,706 | 23.81% |
| Libertarian | Thomas Holbrook | 192 | 2.68% |
| Constitution | Greg A. Cowan | 135 | 1.88% |

#### Political culture

United States presidential election results for Dallas County, Missouri :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 6,907 | 81.83% | 1,458 | 17.27% | 76 | 0.90% |
| 2020 | 6,619 | 81.68% | 1,380 | 17.03% | 105 | 1.30% |
| 2016 | 5,895 | 79.10% | 1,272 | 17.07% | 286 | 3.84% |
| 2012 | 4,992 | 68.58% | 2,122 | 29.15% | 165 | 2.27% |
| 2008 | 4,895 | 63.71% | 2,656 | 34.57% | 132 | 1.72% |
| 2004 | 4,788 | 65.96% | 2,407 | 33.16% | 64 | 0.88% |
| 2000 | 3,723 | 59.86% | 2,311 | 37.16% | 185 | 2.97% |
| 1996 | 2,554 | 45.01% | 2,277 | 40.13% | 843 | 14.86% |
| 1992 | 2,116 | 34.97% | 2,533 | 41.86% | 1,402 | 23.17% |
| 1988 | 2,898 | 55.55% | 2,293 | 43.95% | 26 | 0.50% |
| 1984 | 3,577 | 65.29% | 1,902 | 34.71% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 3,297 | 60.63% | 2,011 | 36.98% | 130 | 2.39% |
| 1976 | 2,430 | 49.49% | 2,453 | 49.96% | 27 | 0.55% |
| 1972 | 3,120 | 74.20% | 1,085 | 25.80% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 2,835 | 62.49% | 1,237 | 27.26% | 465 | 10.25% |
| 1964 | 2,268 | 53.35% | 1,983 | 46.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 3,522 | 70.38% | 1,482 | 29.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 2,987 | 65.12% | 1,600 | 34.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 3,459 | 73.19% | 1,258 | 26.62% | 9 | 0.19% |
| 1948 | 2,695 | 62.73% | 1,590 | 37.01% | 11 | 0.26% |
| 1944 | 3,232 | 75.06% | 1,064 | 24.71% | 10 | 0.23% |
| 1940 | 3,859 | 71.00% | 1,566 | 28.81% | 10 | 0.18% |
| 1936 | 3,066 | 63.50% | 1,749 | 36.23% | 13 | 0.27% |
| 1932 | 1,958 | 47.34% | 2,143 | 51.81% | 35 | 0.85% |
| 1928 | 2,835 | 74.94% | 931 | 24.61% | 17 | 0.45% |
| 1924 | 2,188 | 61.03% | 1,304 | 36.37% | 93 | 2.59% |
| 1920 | 2,665 | 69.93% | 1,100 | 28.86% | 46 | 1.21% |
| 1916 | 1,428 | 56.92% | 1,022 | 40.73% | 59 | 2.35% |
| 1912 | 1,051 | 43.02% | 870 | 35.61% | 522 | 21.37% |
| 1908 | 1,609 | 61.96% | 955 | 36.77% | 33 | 1.27% |
| 1904 | 1,711 | 64.81% | 797 | 30.19% | 132 | 5.00% |
| 1900 | 1,506 | 53.56% | 1,238 | 44.03% | 68 | 2.42% |
| 1896 | 1,466 | 48.75% | 1,525 | 50.71% | 16 | 0.53% |
| 1892 | 1,174 | 49.77% | 586 | 24.84% | 599 | 25.39% |
| 1888 | 1,169 | 49.37% | 706 | 29.81% | 493 | 20.82% |

### Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)

Former U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton (D-New York) received more votes, a total of 1,157, than any candidate from either party in Dallas County during the 2008 presidential primary. She narrowly edged out former Governor Mike Huckabee (R-Arkansas) by four votes.